Our comprehensive northwest tour is set amongst some of the finest scenery in all of South America, and targets every single endemic and near endemic the region has to offer! From such diverse areas as Quebrada de las Conchas and Tafi del Valle to the spectacular Humahuaca Valley and Yungas Cloud forests of Calilegua National Park, no better backdrop exists against which to search out the region’s avian gems! Highlights include Rufous-throated Dipper, Tucuman Mountain Finch, flashy Red-tailed Comet, immense Andean Condor, Sandy Gallito, Burrowing Parrot, Tucuman Amazon and Lark-like Brushrunner.
Top Birds
Rufous-throated Dipper; Tucuman Amazon; Golden-collared Macaw; Grey-hooded, Green-cheeked & Mitred Parakeets; Sandy & Crested Gallitos; Brown & White-throated Cacholotes; Andean Condor; Spot-winged Falconet (rare), Black-legged Seriema; Chaco Chachalaca; Red-faced & Yungas Guans; Chilean, James’s & Andean Flamingos; Puna Ibis; Puna Plover; Moreno`s Ground Dove; Yungas Dove; Olive-crowned Crescentchest; Puna, Maquis, Steinbach´s & Scribble-tailed Canasteros; Rock & Buff-breasted Earthcreepers; Lark-like Brushrunner; Red-tailed Comet; Orange-headed Tanager; Tucuman Mountain Finch; Yellow-striped Brushfinch; Many-colored Chaco Finch.
Top Mammals
Guanaco; Vicuña; Southern Mountain Viscacha; Culpeo.
Habitats Covered
yungas cloud forest, montane forest, woodland, high andean grassland, monte desert, cacti scrubland, dry chaco, altiplano lakes, wetlands, marshlands, rivers, streams
Expected Climate
hot and humid in the lower lying regions, moderate to very cold in the higher altitudes, strong winds can be expected at times
Max Group Size
8 with 1 Rockjumper leader
Tour Pace & Walking
mostly relaxed
Accommodation
comfortable
Ease of Birding
moderate with some tricky species
Other Attractions
spectacular scenery, pristine & little-explored wilderness, great cuisine, super-friendly people
Photographic Opportunities
excellent
Peter Kaestner was an excellent guide, combining outstanding bird-finding and identification abilities, capable and efficient logistical planning, and strong social and interpersonal skills. One especially commendable feature of Peter's bird guiding is his limiting of playback to the minimum needed for the bird to come out and be seen by the whole group (rather than for optimal photos or prolonged views), thereby minimizing disturbance to what are often localized or threatened bird species. We hope that other Rockjumper guides will adopt Peter's approach.
It was an honor and a pleasure to travel with Peter Kaestner, an uncommonly quiet but knowledgeable, dedicated, focused, transparent, kind and caring individual, with a sense of humor and a willingness to take the group's wants and needs into account when issues arose. The whole tour was a rich and rewarding experience!
Peter is an excellent guide! He’s very friendly and did an excellent job is solving an problem that came along. PLU, He knows the birds well and would help us key in on the differences. I will go with him again! Pablo was our local guide and did a phenomenal job as well.
Bobby Wilcox is an excellent guide in every way.
Bobby Wilcox was a very capable and congenial leader. Our group consisted of birders of all levels of expertise. Bobby did his very best to make certain everyone got the opportunities they needed to have a very positive experience.